ANNUAL REPORT 2004 Democratization Democratization More attention is being paid to areas where the ODIHR A new approach to Democratization programmes is in a position to provide added value, such as legislative transparency, democratic governance, criminal-jus- The ODIHR changed its approach to democratization tice reform, enhancing the role of defence lawyers in activities in 2004. Reducing its focus on short-term ensuring fair trials, and civic engagement. In the area projects, which were usually aimed at having a quick of legislative support, the ODIHR established a new impact, the Office is now implementing longer-term unit that increases the Office’s capacity to review draft programmes that are based on lessons learned from laws (usually upon the request of participating States years of work. This shift was based on recognition of or OSCE field operations) and to further improve its the fact that democratization and institution-building online legislative database, www.legislationline.org. are, by definition, long-term processes. Successful programmes, such as participation of The ODIHR takes a comprehensive approach to democ- women in democratic processes and exchange of infor- ratization work. Democratic transition and institution- mation on cross-border migration, have advanced to building require the support and active participation of governments and relevant professionals and also Democratization and institution-building are long-term processes need to engage civil society. The ODIHR is well-placed to play a role in both aspects. As a political body, the ODIHR has an opportunity to engage policy-makers and relevant professional groups. At the same time, the ODIHR works closely with civil society, encouraging engagement in democratic processes, often laying the the next stage. These programmes have developed groundwork for other international organizations and “constituencies” among domestic stakeholders in the non-governmental organizations to continue. government and civil society. The ODIHR’s engagement has resulted in strengthened local capacities in these To implement this approach, the ODIHR developed a areas. Now, the Office is increasingly transferring to methodology that requires an assessment mission as a local counterparts responsibilities for activities it previ- preliminary phase of project development, conducted, ously carried. This reinforces the broader ODIHR strate- where appropriate, in co-ordination with OSCE field gy of ensuring local ownership of reform efforts. missions. Periodic in-house workshops were also carried out in order to refocus and prioritize activities; in With regard to South-Eastern Europe, the ODIHR’s all its work in the area of democratization, the Office work has been mainstreamed into substantive pro- strives to complement the work of field missions. grammes in order to refocus and ensure that lessons learned from the region are available to the wider Organization. Feedback from the region highlighted the Internal reform importance of increasing the ODIHR’s capacity to proThe Office re-prioritized its activities in a number of vide targeted expertise to participating States and field thematic areas in 2004. It also consolidated and missions. strengthened its focus on providing expertise to the participating States and other partners within the Or- At the end of 2004, the anti-trafficking programme ganization, including field missions. moved to the Human Rights Department to enable it 19